Buffing mechanism for railway car-end platforms



March 22; 1949. A, MAR UARDT 2,464,878

BUIFING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR-END PLATFORMS Filed June 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In V6 n/orr Leonarrl flnZarq/uardQ.

L. A. MARQUARDT BUFFING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR-END PLATFORMS Filed June 28, 1945 March 22, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAM Even/[02. Leonard .Z. margyuardjf Patented Mar. 22, 1949 BUFFIN G MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR-END PLATFORMS Leonard A. Marquardt, Elmhurst. 111., assignor to W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 28, 1945, Serial No. 602,050

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in buffing mechanisms for railway cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a bufilng mechanism including the usual end platform and buffing face plate, supported by side stems, wherein the side stems are readily replaceable without disturbing the assembled condition of the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is' to provide a buffing mechanism of the character indicated,

wherein the parts are so designed that the side stems may be readily removed for repair or replacement-without removal or detachment of the buffer face plate of the bufiing mechanism.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a bufiing mechanism including the usual end, platform, buffer face plate, and spring resisted .side stems for supporting the buffer face plate from the platform, wherein the face plate is so designed and the buffer stems are connected thereto in such'a manner that the latter may be readily assembled with and removed from the face plate by passing the same lengthwise through a suitable opening provided for that purpose in the vertical wall of the face plate.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a buffing device for railway cars embodying myinvention. Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1, looking from left to right in said figure. Figure 3 is a front elevational view, onan enlarged scale, similar to Figure 2, showing the parts at one side of the mechanism. Figure 41s a transverse, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3-4 of Figure 6, certain parts being omitted, and showing a step in the removal of the buffer stem. Figure 5 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 55 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 6-6 of Figure4, the buffer side stem being shown in plan. .Figure 7 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 1-! of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of the yoke-like locking, element forming a part of the mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7.

Referring to the drawings, my improvement is shown in connection with a well-known type of bufilng mechanism including the usual end platform I!) of a passenger car,. having a central 2 pocket I I in which the shock absorbing mechanism I2 is contained, and a central buffer stem l3 engaging the friction shock absorbing mechanism. The end platform is provided with the usual opening it through which the central buffer stem extends and in which it is guided. At opposite sides of the central buffer stem, the platform [0 is provided with the usual lengthwise extending openings l5--l5-through which the buffer side stems extend, and rear supporting brackets l ii-i 6 for guiding the buffer sidestems.

In carrying out my invention, I provide broadly a buffer face plate A- supported by a pair of spring opposed side stems BB, and a pair of yokelike members or clips C-C seated over the front ends of the stems BB, the buffer face plate being provided with openings D--D therethrough, through which the buffer side stems may be passed, and which openings are blocked by the yokelike clips C-C to prevent accidental turning and removal of the side stems. 1

The buffer face plate A, which is supported forwardly of the platform in by the side stems 3 3, comprises a vertical front Wall l'I, top and bottom, rearwardly projecting, horizontal flanges l8 and i9, and vertical webs 20-20 and 2020 extending between said top and bottom flanges and formed integral with said flanges and the front wall l1, thus providing rectangular pockets 2| at opposite sides of the face plate, which are adapted to accommodate the front ends of the side stems. At each pocket 2|, the vertical wall ll" of the buffer face plate A is provided with a rectangular opening D which extends therethrough, the opening D being of greater length horizontally than vertically and of such a size as to permit the corresponding bufier side stem to pass therethrough in lengthwise direction when turned about its longitudinal central axis through an angle of degrees from its normal assembled position. The horizontal length 'of the opening D preferably corresponds to the width of the pocket 2| into which it opens. Above and below the opening D, the inner side of the wall I! of the face plate A presents vertical abutment faces 22-22 which are within the pocket D.

The buffer side stems BB, which are disposed at opposite sides'of the platform I 0, are of like design. Each stem B comprises a cylindrical, rodlike rear end section or shank 23 and an enlarged front end section 24 ofoblong, transverse cross section. A shoulder [24 is thus provided between the front end section 24 and the shank section 23. The section 24 has its opposite sides flattened and itstop and bottom sides rounded off, as most clearly shown in Figures 4' and '7. At the extreme forward end thereof, the section 24 of the stem is provided with a forwardly projecting, centrally disposed lug 25 of square cross section, the same being of such a size as to fit between the top and bottom walls of the opening D in the vertical front wall I! of the buffer face plate A. The front end of the lug 25 is flush with the front face of the vertical wall I! of the buffer face plate A.

The yokelike members CC are of similar design, each being in the form of a U-shaped clip having a platelike fiat bottom wall 26 and upstanding, laterally spaced side walls or arms 2'|-21. The arms 21-21 are provided with aligned openings 2828 adapted to receive a headed locking pin 29. Each yoke C is attached to the front end portion of the corresponding side stem B and has the arms 21-21 thereof embracing opposite sides of the stem. The platelike bottom wall 26 of each clip C underlies the front end portion of the buffer side stem. The pins 29 serve to secure the side stems BB to thebufier face plate A and the yokes CC to'the side stems. The pin 29 associated with each side stem extends through aligned openings 3036 in the webs or side walls -20 of the corresponding pocket 2|, an opening 3| in the buffer side stem B, and the openings 28-28 of the yoke C.

As will be seen upon reference to Figures 3 and 7, the arms 21-21 of the yokes or clips CC are of such a height that they extend above and below the opening D of the buffer face plate A. Each yoke or clip C has the front ends of the walls 26 and 2'l2'l thereof abutting the vertical wall I! of the face plate A, and inasmuch as each clip is rigidly secured to the corresponding buffer side stem by the pin 29, the clip or yoke serves as a reenforcing member, which, in effect, forms a head of said buffer stem bearing on the buffer face plate. Each clip or yoke C provides an effective locking means for holding the associated buffer side stem against turning about its longitudinal axis, thereby maintaining the same in the position shown in Figures 5 and 7 and in abutting relation with the front wall ll of the buffer face plate.

Each buffer side stem B is provided with the usual spring 32 which surrounds the stem and bears at its front and rear ends respectively on the shoulder I24 of the stem and the corresponding bracket it of the end platform it. Each stem B also has the usual retaining nuts 33 and 34 at the rear end thereof which abut the corresponding bracket I6 and limit forward movement of the stem B and the attached buffer face plate A.

To remove the buffer side stem B, the pin 29 is disengaged from the stem and yoke C. The yoke is then pushed or slid rearwardly on the stem and out of the pocketzl and removed from the stem. The buffer stem is thusmade free for turning about its longitudinal axis, and after removal of the retaining nuts 33 and 34, the stem may be turned through an angle of 90 degrees to register the vertically flattened front end portion thereof with the opening D of the buffer face plate A so that the stem may be withdrawn in forward direction through said opening.

In applying the buffer side stems, the procedure is substantially the reverse of that followed in removing the same.

I claim:

1. In a buffing mechanism for a railway car includingan end platform; the combinationwith a buffer face plate having a vertical front wall provided with an opening therethrough, said opening being of greater width than height; of a buffer side stem supporting said face plate from said end platform, said stem having the front end portion of elongated vertical cross section, and extending vertically across said opening and bearing on the inner side of said front wall above and below said opening, said front end portion of the stem being of a size to pass freely through said opening when the stem is turned about its longitudinal axis to an extent to register said front end portion with said opening; and a removable locking member having shouldered engagement with the face plate to hold said member against rotation about the axis of said stem,

said member having arms embracing opposite vertical sides of said front end portion of the stem to hold the latter against rotation about its longitudinal axis with said stem positioned to abut said vertical wall above and below the opening thereof.

2. In a buffing mechanism for a railway car including an end platform, the combination with a buffer face plate having a vertical front wall provided with an opening therethrough, said opening being of greater width than height; of a buffer side stem supporting said face plate from said end platform, said stem having the front end portion of elongated vertical cross section, and extending vertically across said opening and bearing on the inner side of said front wall above and below said opening, said front end portion of the stem being of a size to pass freely through said opening when the stem is turned about its longitudinal axis to an extent to register said front end portion with said opening; and a detachable U-shaped locking eiement having upstanding side arms embracing said stem at opposite vertical sides to hold said element and stem against relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the stem, said locking element extending vertically across said opening of the vertical wall' of the face plate and abutting the inner side of said wall above and below said opening, said element and buffer face plate having shouldered engagement with each other to hold said element against rotation with respect to the face plate.

3. In a buifing mechanism for a railway car including an end platform, the combination with a buffer face plate having a vertical front wall provided with a rearwardly facing pocket of angular cross section, said wall of the plate having an opening therethrough at said pocket, said opening being of greater width than height; of a buffer side stem supporting said face plate from said end platform, said stem having a front end portion of elongated vertical cross section disposed within said pocket abutting the inner side of said vertical wall of the face plate above and below the opening thereof, said front end portion of the stem being of a size to pass freely through said opening when said 'bufier side stem is turned about its axis to an extent to register said front end portion with said opening; and a removable locking element within said pocket having shoulderedengagement with the walls of said pocket to hold said'element against rotation, said element embracing the vertical sides of said stem to lock the stem against rotation'about its lo ngitudinal axis.

4. In a bufling mechanism for a railway car including an end platform, the combination with a buffer face plate having a vertical front wall provided with a rearwardly facing pocket of anpocket and abutting the inner side of said vertical wall of the face plate above and below the opening thereof, said front end portion of the stem being of a size to pass freely through said opening when said buffer side stem is turned about its axis to an extent to register said front end portion with said opening; and a removable U-shaped locking element having upstanding side arms and a transverse bottom plate, said locking element being eated in said pocket with the arms thereof interposed between the sides of said front end portion of the stem and the side walls of said pocket, and the bottom plate interposed between the bottom wall of said pocket and the underneath side of said stem to lock said stem against rotation with respect to the face plate about the longitudinal axis of said stem.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a horizontally disposed plate having a vertical front wall provided with an opening therethrough, said opening being of greater width than height; of an elongated supporting bar for said plate, said bar having the front end portion of elongated vertical cross section, and extending vertically across said opening and bearing on the inner side of said front wall above and below said opening, said front end portion of the bar being of a size to pass freely through said opening when said bar is turned about its longitudinal axis to an extent to register said front end portion with said opening; and a detachable U-shaped locking element open at the top and having upstanding side arms embracing said bar at opposite vertical sides to hold said element and bar against relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar, said locking element extending vertically across said opening of the vertical wall of the plate and abutting the inner side of said wall above and below said opening, said element and plate having shouldered engagement with each other to hold said element against rotation with respect to said plate.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a member having a vertical wall provided with a projecting pocket portion of angular, interior cross section at one side thereof, said wall having an opening therethrough communicating with the inner end of said pocket, said opening being of greater width than height; of an elongated bar for supporting said member, the end portion of said bar at one end thereof being of elongated transverse vertical cross section, said end being disposed within said pocket in overhanging relation to said wall of said member above and below the opening thereof, said end portion of the bar being of a size to pass freely through said opening when said bar is turned about its axis to an extent to register said end with said opening; and a removable locking element within said pocket having shouldered engagement with the walls of said pocket to hold said element against rotation, said element embracing the vertical sides of said end of the bar to lock the bar against rotation about its longitudinal axis.

LEONARD A. MARQUARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 397,312 Schroyer Feb. 5, 1889 493,371 Timms Mar. 14, 1893 541,629 Richards June 25, 1895 703,499 Sturmey July 1, 1902 857,831 Richards June 25, 1907 971,985 Gallagher, Jr Oct. 4, 1910 1,323,787 Richards et al Dec. 2, 1910 1,446,351 O'Brien Feb. 20, 1923 1,959,257 Ferk May 15, 1934 2,232,997 Caldwell Feb. 25, 1941 2,332,752 Ratclifie Oct. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 372,972 Great Britain May 19, 1932 

